Mercedes Non-Executive Chairman Niki Lauda has leapt to the defence of Lewis Hamilton after the Brit once again collided with team mate Nico Rosberg in Canada.

The pair came together on the opening lap of the race, as Hamilton went on to win, taking a sizeable chunk out of Rosberg's championship lead, but Lauda belives the three-time world champion did nothing untoward.

It was just a very normal racing incident," he told Bild newspaper. "There was no one to blame. Lewis drove well - he has regained his form but I'm also sorry for Nico."

Lauda admitted that the result in Canada now blows the championship fight wide open, after Rosberg began the season with a clear points advantage.

"The battle for the title is now harder and Nico has to win in Baku, there's no question about that," he said.

Even Gerhard Berger, Rosberg's current contract negotiator, backed Hamilton, telling Tagespiegel newspaper: "Lewis just defended his line."